[UPDATED] MACC to haul up Daim’s wife, two sons tomorrow

KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has summoned the wife of former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin and his two sons for questioning tomorrow.

Daim’s family lawyer issued a notice this evening about the trio being summoned by the graft busters to the MACC headquarters tomorrow morning.

“We refer to the recent raids and seizure orders that were executed in Menara Ilham,” the notice, which was forwarded on WhatsApp, read.

“In furtherance of the above investigation, the MACC has summoned Tun Daim’s wife, Toh Puan Naimah Khalid and Tun’s two sons to be present for questioning at 10.30am tomorrow at MACC’s HQ in Putrajaya.” 

The lawyer added that there would be a press conference with Naimah and the two sons present.

On January 4, the MACC recorded statements from four individuals to assist in its investigation into Daim.

Their lawyers, Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Sohanpal, confirmed in a statement that the graft busters had summoned them to have their statements recorded.

They, however, claimed that “the MACC acted in an oppressive, unlawful and high-handed manner”.

The lawyers said one of them had been present with their client in the interview room before MACC officers asked them to leave.

The anti-graft agency had opened an investigation into Daim in February last year, which was based on leaked information from the Pandora Papers on offshore wealth held by prominent figures.

On December 18, the MACC seized the Ilham Tower in connection with Daim’s involvement in an alleged embezzlement case involving RM2.3 billion in public funds in the 1990s.

The seizure came after the MACC initiated an investigation into Daim’s financial holdings in May.

A week after the tower’s seizure, the MACC confirmed the probe against Daim, and said investigations would include looking into his domestic and international assets and businesses.

MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki told Scoop that the investigation was focused on the acquisitions of his assets and businesses, such as property, hotels and financial institutions overseas. – January 9, 2024